“Higher Education” or the Making of a Succès de Scandale

ABSTRACT:Recent studies of Philip Roth’s The Ghost Writer (1979) have focused on how the public controversy surrounding Nathan Zuckerman’s short story “Higher Education” enables Zuckerman to separate from his family and distinguish himself as an autonomous artist. Little has been said about the impact the public scandal had on the short story itself. This article contributes to filling that gap by arguing that the public scandal brings about Zuckerman’s decision to revise the short story, extending it and publishing it as a full-length book. Rather than Zuckerman revolting against the reception of the work, the reception is a catalyst for Zuckerman’s ability to decide what to do with his manuscript. While a draft of “Higher Education” causes a stir, it might be the scandal that causes “Higher Education” to become a published book in the second installment of the Zuckerman trilogy. Zuckerman is resentful of public pressures, but he is also buoyed by the conflict with his readers.